How To Set Up A Geocache Scavenger Hunt

You've walked past that paper stand up hundreds of times, only did y'all know there's a treasure box tucked under information technology? Millions of hidden "caches" (containers) worldwide are hiding, waiting for discovery. This worldwide outdoor treasure hunt is called Geocaching, and information technology'south an heady—and totally addicting—family risk. We've got a how-to guide that'll tell you everything you need to know, so keep reading and get set up for fun!

What's Geocaching?
Originally chosen "The GPS Stash Hunt" in 2000, founder Dave Ulmer was the first person to start a treasure hunt using GPS coordinates. His idea: "accept some stuff, leave some stuff." Ii people on the internet constitute his container, and the geocaching game was built-in. Now, over two million caches are subconscious effectually the world and over vi million people are on the hunt to find them.

Geocaching is for everyone, everywhere
Geocaching is a whole family unit adventure that can be done anywhere from well-nigh your abode to around the world y'all travel. Kids as immature as toddlers can aid find caches, merely information technology's absolutely perfect for kids 5+ who'll besides get educational value out of the finds, locations, and creating a log of where they accept been.

How to go started:
one.  Download the free app from geocaching.com to become the GPS, log, and hints on enshroud locations. With the app open, you lot'll quickly meet the nearest caches to yous. Follow the arrow until it gets within twenty feet, then put information technology away and start looking around. Upgrade the app (currently $9.99 for three months or $29.99 for a year) to unlock premium-only caches, advanced mapping, custom searches and more than.

2.  When you've constitute your enshroud (yipee!), write your geocacher name—this is a cool handle you lot'll employ for every detect you make — and the date on the log in the container. Y'all tin continue anything you like from the stash, as long every bit you supplant it with something of equal or greater value. Log the notice on your app (include a picture or any notes you'd like to put in for future finders), and put the box back where you found information technology.

iii.   One time y'all get the feel of standard geocaching, endeavor some of the more avant-garde treasure hunts. Multi-Caches tend to take higher quality treasures, and you have to go through a number of stops for clues to find them. Puzzle Caches besides lead you through multiple stops, but you have to solve a puzzle to figure out where to go next.

Desire to hide your ain caches? Yous totally can! Just follow the rules of setting 1 up.

Define "treasure"—what's inside?
"Treasure" is a subjective give-and-take, isn't it? Especially to toddlers who collect things like dingy shoe strings and empty snail shells. Caches are categorized by size—you could be looking for anything from a large shoebox to a modest fake rock with a underground compartment. Within y'all'll find things like coupons, stickers, crayons, lotto tickets, and crush necklaces—the mystery is function of the fun! But the real "treasure", according to long-time geocacher Larry Hazeltine of Colorado Springs (who has found over iii,700 treasures with his iv kids!), isn't the prize itself. "It's all the cool places you'll meet while hunting—parks, historic buildings, astonishing views—the geocaches are simply what bring you there."

Tips and tricks before yous go:
• For your first few times out, search for "regular" size caches, as they're easier to spot than smaller ones (you tin see the size in the cache description).

• Bring a pen or pencil! Some caches don't have anything to write your name on the log with.

• The best enshroud trades are unique and personalized to you or the identify it's hidden.

• If you're stuck on a cache, email the enshroud owner for guidance or aid.

For more data and to get started, visit geocaching.com.

— Shannon Guyton

All images courtesy of  geocaching.com,Featured prototype: Tim Gouw via Unsplash

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Source: https://tinybeans.com/geocaching-treasure-hunt/

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